Whenever we see a button, we are eager to press it because we know something will happen. This is true in most cases, for example on a doorbell and on the “on/off” button on the TV. But some buttons are actually fake, like the “close” button on a lift.
Many people are in the habit of pressing the “close” button because they don’t have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut. But lifts’ “close” buttons are a complete scam (骗局), at least in the US － the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.
It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US, making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter. Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.
But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren’t completely useless. According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.
“Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,” Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor, said, “having a lack of control is associated with depression（沮丧）.”
Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don’t do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose. For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workplace.
Pedestrian(行人) crosswalk buttons don’t live up to their names either. Pressing them used to help make the traffic signals change faster, but that was before computer-controlled traffic signals were introduced.
But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little “white lies”, they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.
“That habit is here to stay,” John Kounios, a psychology professor, said. “Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons, I always press them. After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting. So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?”
1.What was the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
A.To analyze the functions of fake buttons.
B.To describe some different kinds of fake buttons.
C.To explore people’s different habits when it comes to pushing buttons.
D.To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons.
2.In America,the“close”buttons on lifts_______.
A.work only when people press them hard for a while
B.cannot speed up the process of closing the door in any case
C.are fake for the convenience of disabled people
D.were specially designed to give people a sense of control
3.The underlined part“for this same purpose”in Paragraph 6 refers to_______.
A.helping people to build up confidence
B.making people more patient
C.making people with depression feel better
D.giving people perceived control
4.According to John Kounios,people who press fake buttons______.
A.don’t know that what they press is fake
B.should give up this habit
C.consider what they do to be meaningless
D.probably do so to kill time
Thomas James Hanson will remember for a long time the snowstorm that hit the state of New York on November 22nd. The 47-year-old man from Niagara Falls was stuck in his car on the highway for almost eight days after his vehicle was accidentally pushed to the side of the road and covered with snow by workers employed to remove the snow from the streets.
Driving on the Interstate Highway190 during the worst of the snowstorm, Mr. Hanson decided to pull over his old 1993 Volkswagen Passat to the side of the road and wait for the weather conditions to improve. He remained motionless for approximately five hours before a snow plow arrived to clear the way. Unfortunately for the poor man, the driver of the gigantic snow removal vehicle did not see the small car, pushing it into the ditch and covering it with more than 2 meters of snow.
Fortunately for the father of two children, the snow that was stacked over his vehicle was not very dense and allowed for enough fresh air to get through to enable him to survive. He was able to drink water that he obtained by melting snow with his lighter in an aluminum coffee cup, and he ate the few items of groceries he had bought before going home.
“If I had known I would be stuck for eight days, I would have bought more than a jar of dill pickles(咸菜), a bottle of ketchup and two sticks of beef jerky(牛肉干),” said the survivor with a smile.
Thomas Hanson had almost lost all hope of being rescued when his car was hit once again this morning by another snow plow, which revealed the poor man’s location.
1.What caused Thomas James Hanson to fall into the ditch according to the passage?
A.A snow removal vehicle. B.The strong wind.
C.The slippery road. D.His drunk driving.
2.It can be learned from the passage that_______.
A.Mr. Hanson had bought some food before the accident
B.Mr. Hanson got rescued on November 22 eventually
C.Mr. Hanson had enough bottled water to drink in the car
D.Mr. Hanson was stuck in the car with his children.
3.Which of the following can best describe Thomas James Hanson?
A.Quick-minded B.Hard-working C.Careless D.Humorous
4.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A.Heavy Snowstorm Caused Disaster to New York.
B.Man Found Alive after Being Stuck 8 Days under Snow.
C.Thomas James Hanson–a Black Sheep in the Snow.
D.Wonderful Eight Days of Experience in the Snow.
People seem to have a natural need for friends and with good reason, friends increase your enjoyment of life and relieve feelings of loneliness. They even can help reduce stress and improve your health. Having good friends is especially helpful when you are going through any kind of hard time such as when you are experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, or depression.
When you are with good friends, you feel good about yourself, and you are glad to be with them. A friend is someone who —
●you like, respect, and trust, and who likes, expects and trusts you.
●doesn’t always understand you, but accepts and likes you as you are, even as you grow and change.
●allows you the space to change, grow, make decisions, and even make mistakes.
●listens to you and shares with you both the good times and the bad times.
●respects your need for secrets, so you can tell them anything.
●lets you freely express your feelings and emotions without judging, laughing at or criticizing you.
●accepts the limitations you have put on yourself and helps you to remove them.
A person once said. “Friendship is a continuing source of bonding (连接), releasing, and creating in yourself and with the other person, there is an emotional bond between the two people.”
A good friend or supporter may or may not be the same age or the same sex as you, and may not have the same educational, cultural, or religious background, or share interests that are similar to yours. Friendships also have different depths. Some are closer to the heart and some more superficial, but they’re all useful and good.
1.Which of the following is not a function of a friend?
A.He brings you some happiness. B.He helps you feel less lonely.
C.He helps you get over the difficulties. D.He helps you cheat in the exam.
2.The underlined word “superficial” means________.
A.deep B.shallow C.hard D.close
3.Which is the best title for the passage?
A.A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed B.How to Get on with Your Friend
C.Ways to Be a Good Friend D.What Kind of Person a Friend Should Be
Wanting the question _____ once more, the little boy went to the teacher’s office after class.
A.explained B.being explained
C.be explained D.to explain
I feel it is your husband who _______ for the spoiled child.
A.is to blame B.is going to blame
C.is to be blamed D.should blame
Ten minutes earlier, _____we could have saved the boy.
A.or B.otherwise C.and D.so
